“Recevoir une avoinée” is a French saying that means “to receive a correction, to get beaten or to get hit.” English equivalents would include “to get a licking” or “to take a thrashing.” It comes from the word “‘l’avoine,” meaning “oat.” Oats were used as feed for horses. The expression “l’avoine de cocher” from 1866 meant literally “the coachman’s oat” and referred to the coachman applying the whip to his horses to make them move, just as the promise of some oats would also motivate them to move.

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